Improved ditching and grading machine



`When the bars are in-the frame, fig. 1, the metallic strips` are on the outside, as seen.

drawn tol the centre of the machine is passed over by the plate lglnitrr tant latwt @fitte WILLIAM S. WORLEY, TUSGOLA, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 61,908, dated February 5, 18.67.

IMPROVED DI'ICHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONGERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. WORLEY, of Tuscola, in the county of Douglas, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ditching and Grading Machines, and `do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters ofreference marked thereon. d A c In the drawings, VA represent two side bars or plates made of wood, and provided on one side near their bottoms with a narrow Vmetallic strip, B. Thiss'trip is foi the purpose of preventing wear upon the barsA A, i

when the machine is at work. These bars A have their'sides bevelled o' at each end, as shown, from n: to z. Each bar has each of its sides bevelled at each end, but the bevel is on one side at one end, and on the other side at the opposite end. The object of making these bars in this manner is' that they may lie-susceptible of being placed together in the two forms represented in the two Figures 1 and 2.A g and la, fig. 1, and d and b, fig. 2,v

represent connecting braces between the two bars. It will be seen that when the bevelled ends of the bars are brought together and secured, and their connecting braces are placed Vin position, the frame thus formed is in V-shape. C represents a nose-piece and cutter, which is secured upon the forward end of the fr ame in g. `1, by meansof a clevis which passes through said nose-piece and through the bevelled ends of the bars. The clevis is held in position by means of a key which passesthrough holes near its ends. The keys a a are connected to the frames byshort chains, and are forthe purpose of holding -th'e connecting braces and the vclevis in their proper places. D represents a lever, which is adjustably attached to 'the frame in g. 1, for the drawn `forward in its work.v The frame, flg. 1, is drawn,V

purpose of operating or moving the frame as it is being as shown by the arrow, with its converged end forward, and is for the purpose of throwing earth from the ditch which has been previously loosened by either ploughing or digging. 1 In runningY the machine, iig. 1, in a ditch for removing looseearth, one of the side bars is run against and parallel with the bank or kerf .of the ditch made by the land-side of the plough used for loosening the earth. The o uter bar serves to throw4 the earth out of the ditch. Themortises in the bars, and the tenons on the connecting braces, in iig. 1, are se formed that-when the frame is put together one of the bars will stand relatively a little higher than the other. The one which stands the highest is the one which throws the earthfrom the ditch and throws it up, by this formation, a slightly inclined plane. This formation prevents the two bars from wedging at any time between banks or land-'sides'.

` In fig. 2, the frame is in V`shape,.but draws with its open ends forward, and when in this positon is used for grading. E represents a metallic V`-shaped plate, curved as represented, and securedto the brace b.y This plate has two small wings, which rest upon the top edges of the bars A A, while its point runs down and rests under the converged ends of the frame. In drawing this machine forward for grading, the open ends of the bars collect and draw towards the centre of theframe the loose earth upon the road, filling all'low spots or holes in the road. The earth thus E, and packed in a ridge at the centre of/the road. The plate E isvery important for packing the earth, as it is 'thus -brought tothe centre of the road. The formation of the bars, as seen, is suchas to render them easily adaptable to either form of machine shown in the drawings, both of which-are so very essential in the making of roads. V

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asinew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' 1. The bars A A, constructed as herein described, whereby they may be adapted to a ditching and grading frame, substantially as specified.

2. The plate E, used in combination with the bars A A, fig. 2, for the purpose of making an excavating and grading frame, as and for the purpose specified. V

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of December, 1866.

WM. S. WORLEY.

Witnesses:

C. M. ALEXANDER, J. M. MASON. 

